Income Inequality in Malaysia: The Dichotomy of Government Perception and Malaysians' Lived Experiences

According to the Malaysian government, income equality in Malaysia has been consistently improving for the past 15 years. However, several indicators suggest that the perception among the general Malaysian population is that income equality is not improving or even may be worsening. This article investigates the reasons why this disconnect between government and public perception exists as well as provides policy suggestions for ensuring equitable human development among Malaysians as the country strides toward high-income status.